Device for temporarily storing a length of a thread



H. P. VAN MULLEKOM DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY STORING A LENGTH OF A THREAD Filed Jan. 10; 1968 March 24, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 24, 1970 H. PQ VAN MULLEKOM 3,502,253

DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY STORING A LENGTH OF A THREAD Filed Jan. 10, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O M 3,502,253 DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY STORING A LENGTH OF A THREAD Hubert Peter van Mullekom, Deurne, Netherlands, as-

signor to N.V. Machinefabriek L. Te Strake, a Dutch company Filed Jan. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 696,765 Claims priority, application Netherlands, Jan. 18, 1967, 6700828 Int. Cl. B65h 59/10 US. Cl. 226-97 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The device comprises a relatively wide, thin channel for receiving a length of the thread in the form of an elongated loop, the lateral side walls of the channel being substantially parallel. One or more jet nozzles are arranged adjacent to one end of the channel and extend across substantially the entire width of the channel from one lateral side wall of the channel to the other. The nozzle or nozzles are so directed as to discharge fluid into the channel in a flow which is generally longitudinal and laterally symmetrical with respect to the channel, and which extends across the entire width of the channel so as to draw the elongated loop of thread into the channel while maintaining the two legs of the loop close to the two opposite lateral side walls of the channel in order to prevent the thread from tangling in the channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a device for temporarily storing a length of a thread, which device possesses a channel shaped space for taking up a length of a thread and a jet assembly for a fluid, which assembly is adapted in such a manner that the jet, leaving a jet nozzle of the assembly flows through the channel shaped space as known per se.

In the known device the channel shaped space is connected to a suction device and the thread can be conveyed through the channel shaped space by an air stream,

caused by the suction action of the suction device. The

nozzle for porducing a jet of the fiuid has an additional function to force the thread quickly into the channel shaped space. The temporary storing of a length of the thread by means of suction action has the drawback, that the thread cannot be inserted quickly enough into the channel shaped space or that a very great suction capacity is required in order to obtain a quick insertion of the thread into the channel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to improve such a device in order to attain a quick storing of a length of a thread in the channel shaped space without using much energy for the conveying medium, such as air.

According to the invention this is attained in that one orvmore jet nozzles are positioned in such a manner with respect to the cross section of the channel shaped space, that the conveying medium leaving the jet nozzles will cover the entire cross section of the channel shaped space and will convey the thread through the channel, so that the thread will be quickly inserted into the channel shaped space by the jets leaving the nozzles.

It will be evident, that when a narrow channel shaped space is used, less jet nozzles can be provided than in the case when a wide channel shaped space is used, in order to obtain a quick movement of the thread within the channel shaped space. A narrow channel shaped space is to be preferred, as in textile machinery not much room is available between two thread guides, between which a thread is to be guided. On the other hand a narrow channel shaped space can lead to difficulties, when the length of a thread is to be stored in the shape of a loop and the legs of the loop can easily touch each other, resulting in an entanglement of the thread. When the thread in the shape of a loop is touched by a strong jet the possibility of entanglement of the thread will increase as the legs of the loop in the thread will be forced toward each other by the strong air jet. In the case when a narrow channel shaped space, having a relatively great length is used, it is to be preferred to adapt the device according to the invention in such a manner, that one or more jet nozzles are so situated that an air stream is created within the channel shaped space, which stream of air has ahigher velocity at the opposite walls of the channel shaped space than in the central part of this channel shaped space. With regard to the height of the channel shaped space, it need only be slightly larger than the thickness of the thread, whereas the width of this channel shaped space must be sufficient to prevent contacting of the legs of the loop shaped thread to be inserted into the channel shaped space.- The length of the channel shaped space is adapted to the length of the loop in the thread, which is to be temporarily stored.

According to the invention it is possible, that one or more jet nozzles for the conveying medium may be ar ranged over the entire width of the channel shaped space in front of the mouth of same. Such an arrangement is to be preferred, when the device according to the invention is to be used for taking up an excess in the length of a thread which runs between two points. In such a case the thread is guided between the mouth of the channel shaped space and the jet nozzles for the fluid. According to the invention it is also possible, that one or more jet nozzles for the conveying medium may be provided in a lateral wall of the channel shaped space, whereas the jet nozzles are directed longitudinally of the channel shaped space. Such an arrangement is very suitable when the channel shaped space forms a part of a device for weft inserting in a jet operating loom. In channel shaped spaces, having a relatively large porportion between the length and width, it is advantageous that the flow of the conveying medium through the chanel be regulated in such a manner, that the legs of the loop of the thread tend not to move toward each other but to move away from each other. When only one jet nozzle is provided it is advisable, that the opening of the jet nozzle have the shape of a small slot, in which the width varies longitudinally of the slot. When, however, more than one jet nozzle has been provided, it is advisable that a number of the jet nozzles have differently restricted passages so as to discharge different volumes of air into the channel shaped space.

It is advisable that the jet nozzles be positioned in such a manner, that the jets diverge longitudinally of the channel shaped space.

A practical embodiment according to the invention is attained in that the jet nozzles are provided with a restriction valve for regulating the jets, leaving the nozzles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a track of the thread in a textile machine, in which a thread is drawn from a thread package and in which diagram a device for temporarily storing a part of a thread according to the invention is arranged, showing the main parts of this device;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section along the line IIII in FIG. 1 of the channel shaped space of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the entrance for the thread and the jet 3 medium in the device according to the invention in cross section along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 at the place of a jet nozzle;

FIG. is a cross section of a modified construction of the device according to the invention, in which this device is adapted to launch a thread, which cross section has been taken longitudinally of the channel shaped space;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the parts shown in FIG. 5, however, in an exploded position; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section along the line VIIVII in FIG. 5 from which the shape of the cross section of the channel shaped space appears.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 a track of a thread in a textile machine is diagrammatically shown and the thread is conveyed by jet action of a fluid. Such an arrangement is applied in looms in which weft insertion is performed by jet action of a fluid. A thread 2 is drawn through a thread guide 3 from a thread package 1 by means of two rollers 4a and 4b. The rollers 4a and 4b rotate with a constant velocity and they are e.g. connected to a rotating shaft of the textile machine, on which the device according to the invention is mounted. By means of a jet nozzle 5, which e.g. operates by air under pressure the thread 2 is further conveyed. A control valve 7 is situated in a supply line 6 for a fluid e.g. air under pressure. The line 8 for the fluid is arranged between the control valve 7 and the jet nozzle 5. By means of a lever 9, which is controlled by a cam 10, rotating synchronously with a shaft of the textile machine, the control valve 7 can be operated in such a manner that the fluid from the supply line 6 either flows through the line 8 or the line 11. The line 11 is connected to the device for temporarily storing a length of thread, which device has been generally indicated by the reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1.

The device 12 consists in a holder 13 or shaft for a loop of a thread, which holder is provided with an internal channel shaped space, which is connected at one end to a head 14. The opposite end of the space is open to the surrounding air. The open end is indicated by the reference numeral 16b.

The channel shaped space is indicated by a dash line 16 in FIG. 1. The cross section of this channel shaped space 16 is relatively flat as appears from FIG. 2. Preferably the central part 15 of the channel shaped space 16 is less in size than the cross section at the sides of the channel shaped space. The thread is to be inserted in the shape of a loop 2a into the space 16 on the side of the head 14. The head 14 is provided with a channel 17 for the thread. This channel has an entrance 18 and an outlet 19. In front of the space 16 the channel 17 debouches in a fiat slot 20, whose shape is adapted to the shape of the space 16. The slot 20 thus can be considered as a part of the channel shaped space 16.

Further a channel 21 is provided in the head 14 and the line 11 for the fluid has been connected to this channel 21. A hand operable valve 22 and a restriction valve 23 have been situated in the channel 21. The valve 22 remains in a position in which the channel 21 is uninterrupted under normal conditions as shown in the cross section of FIG. 3. Further the channel 21 is provided with jet nozzles in the shape of narrow channels 24, which debouch into the channel 17 in front of the slot 20 and in front of the channel shaped space 16. The jet nozzles in the shape of the channels 24 are not only shown in FIG. 1 but also in the cross section of FIG. 4.

The channel 21 is provided with a branch 25 upstream of the valve 22, which branch debouches also into the channel 17.

The channels 24 adapted as jet nozzles are each provided with a restriction valve in the shape of a screw 26 to regulate the flow of the medium through the channels 24 for a purpose, which will be described later. Preferably the branch 25 is also provided with a restriction valve in the shape of a screw 26a. A thread clamp 27 is provided in the outlet part 19 of the channel 17, which thread clamp can hold the thread in the channel 17 The purpose of the thread clamp 27 will be described later.

The operation of the device as shown in FIG. 1 proceeds as follows:

Starting from a position in which the control valve 7 connects the line 6 with the line 11, the leading end of the thread 2, supplied by the rollers 4a and 4b, is held at the entrance 18 of the channel 17. The valve 22 will be pressed down by hand, owing to which the passage of the channel 21 is interrupted. The conveying medium, such as air under pressure will flow only through the branch 25 into the channel 17, owing to which an injector action is created and the thread will be sucked into the entrance 18 and will be conveyed through the channel 17 to the outlet 19. The thread can pass the thread clamp 27, which at this operation is in an open position. Further the thread 2 is inserted into the launching device 5 in the shape of a jet nozzle. Now it is necessary to close the thread clamp 27, because after the valve 22 is released the channel 21 will be uninterrupted again and the conveying medium can flow through the channels or jet nozzles 24.

The air jets, leaving the nozzles 24, force the thread through the slot 20 into the channel shaped space 16, which thread will take the shape of a loop 2a. When the rollers 4a and 4b continue to supply thread, the loop 2a of the thread becomes longer and moves further into the channel shaped space 16. When now the control valve 7 is switched over in such a manner that the conveying medium from the supply line 6 flows through the line 8 to the jet nozzle 5, the thread will be drawn out of the outlet 19 and the channel 17. During the operation of switching over the control valve 7 by means of the lever 9, the clamping action of the thread clamp 27 is also released. The construction of the thread clamp 27 and its control members need not be described, because such thread clamps are known per se and of common use in textile machinery. When the clamping action of the thread clamp 27 on the thread is released the loop 2a of the thread will be entirely drawn out of the channel shaped space 16 by the action of the jet nozzle 5 until the thread is tensioned in the channel 17. It is evident, that with a correct timing in controlling the valve 7 and the thread clamp 27 with respect to the supplying speed of the thread by the rollers 4a and 4b an exact measuring of a length in the shape of a loop 2a of the thread can be obtained. This is very important when the launching device or jet nozzle 5 is adapted to insert a measured length of a weft into the shed, when the device is used in a loom, provided with a jet operating weft inserting device.

The operation and driving of the rollers 4a and 4b, of the control valve 7 and the thread clamp 27, further the operation of the launching device or jet nozzle 5 need not be described because they have been mentioned only in order to describe the operation of the device 12 for temporarily storing a length of a therad, which is the subject matter of the invention. Other means for conveying a thread, as used in textile machinery in general could be mentioned also for this purpose.

The jet nozzles 24 are not parallel, but diverge in the direction of the jets, as appears from FIG. 1. This arrangement is desired, because the legs 21) and 2b of the loop 2a may not come in touch with each other when the loop 2a extends far in the channel shaped space 16. The quantity of supplied air, flowing out of the different jet nozzles 24 differs also in order to obtain different air jets for the same purpose, that is to say to keep the legs 2b and 2b of the loop 2a apart from each other. In general, the quantity of conveying air leaving the centrally positioned jet nozzles 24 is less than the quantity of air, leaving the jet nozzles at the sides of the channel shaped space 16. The

quantity of air, leaving the nozzles 24, can be empirically adjusted. Although the provision of separate jet nozzles 24 is to be preferred, one single jet nozzle in the shape of a narrow slot can be provided also. The shape of the slot, however, is to be adapted in order to obtain the desired pattern in the sectors of velocity within the air jet, leaving the slot shaped jet nozzle.

It is not strictly necessary that the jet nozzles 24 be positioned in front of the mouth of the channel shaped space 16. The jet nozzles can be positioned also in a side wall of the channel shaped space and an embodiment of such a construction is shown in FIG. 5. The part 13a is provided with the channel shaped space 16a, which is open at the end 16b. Eventually a filter (not shown) may be positioned at the open end of the channel shaped space 16a for the purpose of collecting dust. The mouth of the channel shaped space 1611 is connected to a chamber 28 for presenting a thread.

The part 13a, having the channel shaped space 16a, is connected to a device for launching a thread, which device is generally indicated by the reference numeral 29. The chamber 28 is connected to a hopper shaped channel 30 of the launching device, which is provided with a jet nozzle 5 for a jet medium, which is supplied through the line 8a. The thread in the shape of a loop is presented through the opening 31 by means of a presenting needle 32 and further the thread is brought in front of the mouth of the channel shaped space 16a by means of a hook 32a. In which manner the thread in the shape of a loop is brought in front of the channel shaped space 16a will not be described, because the presenting of the thread is not a part of the invention and this embodiment has the only purpose to show in which manner the jet nozzles can be situated in a side wall of the channel shaped space 16a.

A part of the wall of the channel shaped space 16a is constituted by the upper surface 33 of a block 34. This block is provided with a channel 21a for the conveying medium, which is supplied through a line 11a. The channel 21a is provided with a number of channels 24a, which debouch into the side wall of the block near its upper surface 33. The channels 24a are provided wtih restriction valves in the shape of a screw 26 in the same manner as is provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 for the purpose of regulating the flow of air jets, leaving the channels 24a. The wall of the channel shaped space is inclined in front of the channels 240, as indicated by the reference numeral 35 in FIGS. 5 and 6. As the chamber 28 for presenting a loop of the thread has been situated at a distance from the mouth of the jet nozzles or channels 24a a hook 36 is provided in order to bring the loop of the thread of the chamber 28 in front of the jet nozzles 24a. The stem of the hook is inclined with respect to the wall of the channel shaped space 16a and the hook 36 disappears in a narrow slot 37 during its movement, owing to which the thread comes free from the hook. When the hook after retraction disappears in its slot 37, it forms no obstruction in the channel shaped space 16a. The hook 36 is driven by a mechanism, which also controls the presenting needle 32 and the hook 32a.

In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the channel shaped space 16a is provided with a reduced central part 15a, having its opposite walls parallel to each other, and widened side parts 16a as shown in the cross section of FIG. 7.

The widened parts are also shown in FIG. 6.

The channels 24a diverge in the direction of flow of the jets for the same purpose as has been described with reference to FIG. 1.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for temporarily storing a length of a thread, comprising a relatively wide, thin channel for receiving a length of the thread in the form of an elongated loop, the lateral side walls of the channel being substantially parallel, wherein the improvement comprises a jet assembly for discharging a fluid, having one or more jet nozzles which are arranged adjacent to one end of the channel and extend across substantially the entire width of the channel from one lateral side wall of the channel to the other, and which are so directed as to discharge fluid into the channel in a flow which is generally longitudinal and laterally symmetrical with respect to the channel and which extends across the entire width of the channel so as to draw the elongated loop of thread into the channel while maintaining the two legs of the loop close to the two opposite lateral side walls of the channel in order to prevent the thread from tangling in the channel.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more jet nozzles are adapted in such a manner, than an air stream is created within the channel, which stream of air has a higher velocity at the opposite side walls of the channel than in the central part of this channel.

3; A device according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of jet nozzles are provided which are restricted in different degrees so that the volume of air discharged varies from one jet nozzle to another.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein each jet nozzle is provided with a restriction valve.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein one or more jet nozzles are provided in a laterally extending wall of the channel, adjacent to one end of the channel, and are directed generally longitudinally with respect to the channel, so as to discharge fluid through the channel.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of jet nozzles are provided which are so directed as to produce jets which diverge slightly from one another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,093,282 6/1963 Hezzlewood 226-97 X ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

